3ds Max 2015 Extension 1 New Features

3ds Max 2015 Extension 1 – OpenSubdiv Support

With new support for OpenSubdiv—the top-rated feature request on User. Artists can now represent subdivision surfaces in 3ds Max using the OpenSubdiv libraries open-sourced by Pixar. The libraries incorporate technology from Microsoft Research, and are designed to help take advantage of both parallel CPU and GPU architectures, leading to faster in-viewport performance for meshes with high subdivision levels.

Working with OpenSubdiv in Autodesk 3ds Max 2015 Extension 1

In this video John Martini, known for his site Joker Martini, walks through the details of OpenSubdiv in 3ds Max.

Exploring OpenSubdiv in Autodesk 3ds Max Extension 1 (part1)

Exploring OpenSubdiv in Autodesk 3ds Max Extension 1 (Part 2)

In this tutorial Neil Blevins shows how OpenSubdiv makes it easier to transfer your models between 3ds Max, Maya, and Mudbox.

Extension 1 delivers powerful OpenSubdiv modeling workflows – the top feature request on User Voice – support for the Alembic interchange format, and enhancements to the ShaderFX visual shader editor that helps you more easily create and exchange the complex assets today’s demanding productions require.

New features

OpenSubdiv Support

Efficiently represent subdivision surfaces using OpenSubdiv libraries, open-sourced by Pixar and incorporating technology from Microsoft Research.
Visualize your model interactively without the need to render for a better WYSIWYG experience, greater productivity, and more accurate realization of creative intent.
Get faster in-viewport performance for meshes with high subdivision levels by taking advantage of both parallel CPU and GPU architectures.
Reduce the guesswork when animating models and help shorten production times, with efficient smooth surface representation.
Create complex topology in less time, by taking advantage of efficient crease modeling workflows with CreaseSet modifier and Crease Explorer.
Easily transfer your models to and from certain other packages that support OpenSubdiv using Autodesk® FBX® asset exchange technology and achieve a consistent appearance.

Alembic Support

View massive datasets in the Nitrous Viewport, and transfer them more easily through your production pipeline with new Alembic support.
Work with production-proven technology, co-developed by Sony Pictures Imageworks Inc. and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Move complex data through a pipeline in a manageable form: complex animated and simulated data is distilled into a non-procedural, application-independent set of baked geometric results.
Get more from your workstation, with highly efficient use of memory and disk space.
Enjoy faster data transfer and load times, with the ability to export and load only selected geometry.

Enhanced ShaderFX

Get more shading options and better shader interoperability between 3ds Max, Autodesk® Maya® software, and Autodesk® Maya LT TM software.
Create a wider range of procedural materials with new node patterns—wavelines, voronoi, simplex noise, and brick.
Create normal maps from 2D grayscale images with a new bump utility node.
Get faster access to the shaders you need, with a searchable node browser.